After setting up Modern Crewel, the embroidery project we looked at here last week, it was hard to tear myself away from it!
You know how that is, don’t you? You have every intention of “just doing a little bit right now to get started” … and then, next thing you know, you’re engrossed, and that little bit turns into a lotta bit.
Funny thing is, today I was going to write to you about Time Management and embroidery projects. You can see how well I managed my time on preparing that one! Golly. What a week!
So I got hooked into Modern Crewel, and found myself moving forward on the stem or trunk of the main element, which is a pomegranate.
This part of the project is worked in raised stem stitch. You can find my how-to video for raised stem stitch here, and a step-by-step photo tutorial for it here. It’s a nice variation on stem stitch, and it gives quite a bit of lift and texture to an embroidered element.
One tip that might come in handy when working this stitch is to use a tapestry needle instead of a regular embroidery or crewel needle when working the stem stitch over the foundation stitches.
A tapestry needle with its blunt tip is a better choice of needle in this instance, because the tip won’t snag on the previous stitches as you pass under them. A crewel needle (with a sharp point) is more likely to snag those stitches.
If you’re working the same project, then, and you haven’t gotten to the trunk yet, consider a #28 or #26 tapestry needle for this part of the embroidery. It really does make a difference!
Here’s my stem practically finished. I didn’t work out the distribution of the different colors in the stem as well as I would have liked, but I think it’s ok. I’m certainly not taking it out!
On the other two stems, though, I have a different approach in mind that will help create a more subtle change of shades across the stem. At each shade change, I’ll do a little alternating in the colors.
For example, imagine you’re working color A. When it’s time to change to color B, I’ll work one row of stem stitch in color B, one more in color A, and then move back to color B for the duration of color B.
I think this will make the color changes less stripey. We’ll see!
Instead of moving onto the next two stems, though, I’ve plunged straight into the pomegranate. It’s my favorite element in the piece, and I couldn’t wait to get to it!
So that’s where I am on this project.
And guess what? I started two more projects this week. Which is one of the reasons I need to write to you about Time Management! Maybe it’ll serve as a reminder…!
One of the new projects is intense and will probably take a year or more to finish. The other is just downright embroidery crafting fun! I’ll show ’em to you when the time is right!
Needle ‘n Thread, Ahead and Behind
Don’t forget A Stitcher’s Christmas Give-Away #3 – it ends Friday! Five winners will receive a full kit and magazine from Inspirations!
On Friday, you won’t want to miss A Stitcher’s Christmas #4, trust me! I’m super-jealous of this one! It features something every needleworker loves – Really Good Scissors!
And I really do have an article on Time Management and Embroidery Projects in the works. I’ll even share with you a horrendous photo of one of the greatest inhibitors of good time management. And I’ll show you how I organize my current projects.
Is your week is going along smashingly so far? I hope so! We’re expecting our first snow in Kansas today – a whole dusting to an inch. Woohoo! We take what we can get! It promises to be an indoor cold and blustery day, too, so here’s to a lot of progress, a little bit at a time!
Happy Wednesday!
